Doepfer

Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH is a manufacturer of audio hardware based in Gräfelfing, Germany, founded by Dieter Döpfer.

The product range covers analog modular systems, MIDI controller, MIDI hardware sequencers, MIDI-to-CV/Gate/Sync Interfaces, MIDI master keyboards and special MIDI equipment.

Dieter Döpfer began developing audio hardware with a Voltage Controlled Phaser (VCP) module for the Formant, a do-it-yourself-kit analog synthesizer from Elektor magazine in 1977. Several legendary modular synths followed while Döpfer also focused on the development of MIDI equipment during the 1980s.

In 1992, Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH released the MIDI analog sequencer MAQ16/3 which was designed in cooperation with Kraftwerk. In the beginning, the company had direct sales and interested musicians would receive a demonstration by visiting other customers since the modular systems were deemed too difficult for typical music shop employees to demonstrate. Facing greater publicity, Doepfer shifted the distribution to specialized points of sales.

Product History (to 2006)

Doepfer MS-404 Synthesizer

Doepfer A-100 Synthesizer

• 1979 Voltage controlled phaser module for the German Formant modular synthesizer
• 1980 Polyphonic modular system PMS (quad-modules, like quad-VCO, quad-VCF...)
• 1982 Voice modular system (one synthesizer voice with 2 VCOs,2ADSR,1VCF,1VCA on one board 100x160mm, designed with CEM chips from Doug Curtis/USA)
• 1984 Sound Sampler (8 bit voltage controlled sampler with interface and sampling software for Commodore 64)
• 1985 Loop option, compander and synthesis software for sound sampler (FM, Fourier, Waveshaping and so on)
• 1986 MIDI-to-CV interface MCV1 (first version)
• 1987 Computer controlled audio mixing console CCM with computer controlled faders (VCAs) and filters (VCFs), interface and software for Commodore 64 and Atari ST
• 1989 simple MIDI master keyboard LMK1
• 1989 MIDI keyboard MMK2 (e.g. used by Kraftwerk live for the Pocket Calculator song)
• 1989 MIDI master keyboard controller MKC1/2 (for combination with LMK1)
• 1990 MIDI master keyboard LMK3 with piano touch simulation
• 1990 MIDI master keyboard LMK1V2 (improved version of LMK1)
• 1990 16 voice MIDI expander SX-16
• 1990 MIDI Bass pedal MBP1
• 1990 Drum to MIDI converter DMC-8
• 1990 universal MIDI out interface MONA
• 1991 2 manual MIDI keyboard K2B
• 1991 MIDI program change unit MPC128
• 1991 MIDI-to-Gate interface MTG128 with up to 128 Gate outputs controlled via MIDI
• 1991 MIDI-to-Switch interface MTS128 with up to 128 MIDI controlled electronic switches (e.g. as MIDI-In interface for any non-MIDI-keyboard)
• 1992 MIDI master keyboard series LMK1+/LMK2+/LMK4+ with real hammer mechanics
• 1992 GM compatible MIDI expander GMX-1
• 1992 MIDI analog sequencer MAQ16/3 (designed in cooperation with KRAFTWERK)
• 1993 MIDI controller dimmer pack MIDIM8 with 8 power outputs
• 1993 MIDI switchpack MTP8 with 8 power outputs
• 1993 MIDI volume foot controller MVP1
• 1994 MIDI master keyboard top model LMK4+
• 1994 MIDI glove MOGLI
• 1994 universal MIDI event generator MEG
• 1994 MIDI to relays interface MTR128 to control up to 128 relays via MIDI note on/off
• 1994 MIDI-to-SYNC interface MSY1
• 1995 monophonic analog MIDI synthesizer MS-404
• 1995 2 manual MIDI master keyboard TMK2
• 1996 Analog modular system A-100 (first series of modules)
• 1997 MIDI pattern sequencer SCHALTWERK
• 1997 Analog modular system A-100 (second series of modules)
• 1997 MIDI-to-CV interface MCV4
• 1997 MIDI-to-SYNC interface MSY2
• 1998 MIDI fader box and pattern/analog sequencer REGELWERK
• 1998 Analog modular system A-100 (third series of modules)
• 1998 MIDI Keyboard PK88 (control keyboard especially for piano expanders)
• 1998 MIDI-to-CV/Gate interface MCV24 (24 CV/Gate outputs)
• 2004 A-106 Xtreme Filter
• 2004 A-151 Quad Sequential Switch
• 2004 A-143-1 Complex Envelope Generator
• 2004 A-143-2 Quad ADSR
• 2004 A-143-3 Quad LFO
• 2006 BBD Module A-188-1
• 2006 Universal vactrol Module A-101-9
• 2006 Thru-Zero Quadrature VCO
• 2006 30/60dB Switched Capacitor Filter
• 2006 A-100 Keyboard/Sequencer
• 2010 Dark Energy Mono Synth
• 2011 Dark Time Analog Sequencer
•  ???? Bit Cruncher/ Bit Processor
•  ???? Clocked Audio Delay
•  ???? Universal 12-BIT AD-processor-DA module
•  ???? A-143-3 Multiple Synched VC LFO
•  ???? Dual Balanced VCF
•  ???? A-164 Manual Gate Module
•  ???? A-173 Distance to CV converter
•  ???? A-195 Pitch-to-CV-Midi Interface

Notable Users

• Chemical Brothers
• Kraftwerk
• Radio Massacre International
• John Frusciante
• Daft Punk
• Keith Fullerton Whitman
• Kontour
• Beau Damion
• Angelspit
• Radiohead
• Jay Metarri
• Nine Inch Nails
• Autechre
• Snakestyle
• Gus Gus
• Juraj Tatar
• Simian Mobile Disco
• Deadmau5
• Snap! (Luca Anzilotti a.k.a. John VIRGO Garrett III)

External links

• Doepfer Home Page